Generation Anxiety

July 31, 2023
Psychologist and TikTokker Cook debuts with an accessible resource that urges readers to combat their anxiety by taking “purposeful action” to “decide how we want to live our lives” in the face of anxiety rather than trying to eradicate it. While anxiety can make it seem as though “we’re in completely unknown waters,” Cook writes, “riding the wave” of the emotion can decrease one’s distress, as the sufferer is no longer stymied by fear. Presenting examples of patients who worked to avoid “drowning” in their stresses, Cook describes how Luis grappled with his debilitating obsessive compulsive disorder through “exposure and response prevention therapy,” which entails progressively acclimating to one’s fears (Luis, whose OCD involved cleanliness-based obsessions, might progress from “not sanitizing groceries” to “only showering once a day”), while Colleen sought relief from bipolar disorder symptoms through gratitude practices, which can correct for the brain’s tendency to “skew negative” and help the sufferer understand that “pain and joy” can exist side by side. Elsewhere, Cook outlines more general self-care interventions, including upping one’s vitamin D and B12 intake and improving sleep hygiene. Cook’s anxiety-managing practices are wise and lucidly explained, and readers will be emboldened by her message that fear and bravery aren’t antithetical. This strikes a skillful balance between compassion and practicality.